cozumel history Archives - The Cabana Beach

To speak of Mexico is to speak of the Maya civilization, one of the most important in pre-Hispanic America.

Therefore, it is not surprising that every year millions of people want to admire in person the invaluable legacy left by this culture in Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco, the eastern part of Chiapas and Quintana Roo.
Precisely, in this state we can locate the island of Cozumel among the favorite destinations for those who decide to enjoy a vacation in this country.

For you to enjoy even more your trip to this paradise on the Caribbean coast and its Mayan heritage, here are a few curiosities that you will probably like to know.

Things you have to know about Cozumel

Cozumel, in Mayan language Kosom Lumil, is the third largest island in Mexico and the second most populated.
It is one of the 11 municipalities of the State of Quintana Roo, is located 18 kilometers from the Yucatan Peninsula and just over 60 kilometers from Cancun.

It is also known as the Land of the Swallows due to the large number of these birds that fly over this territory founded by the Mayas as a sacred sanctuary and commercial stop.

The enchanting island has been the scene of historical events that have marked it, making it an exotic island, like something out of a fairy tale. It has sheltered Mayans, Spaniards and even reckless pirates.

Despite this, it has always been a peaceful island and its inhabitants seem to be enraptured by a love and respect for the Mayan culture as in few other places.

The Arrecifes National Park (Great Mayan Reef) and its spectacular corals and marine fauna are some of the reasons why Cozumel is considered one of the top 5 diving destinations in the world.

Around the 60’s the renowned filmmaker, diver, oceanographer and writer Jacques Cousteau after having explored the seas throughout the world aboard his ship Calypso, declared that Cozumel was the best place to dive and, as if by magic, all diving lovers fixed their eyes on this small island making it one of the best places to practice this sport.

The people of Cozumel in gratitude to Jacques Cousteau have placed a statue of him at the bottom of the sea.

If you don’t want to swim underwater to appreciate the marine fauna, coral formations and even a sunken ship, you can dive in a real submarine!

Although Cozumel does not have extensive white sand beaches, since its geography is rather rocky, there are at least 3 that are a must-see:
Punta Chiqueros – with a still rather “wild” environment -; Playa Palancar, one of the most popular and highly recommended for snorkeling; and Playa de Chen Rio, which looks more like a swimming pool, thanks to the rocks that surround the place and slow down the swell.

Archaeological sites in Riviera Maya

Among the most important archaeological sites to visit in Cozumel are the San Gervasio Ruins, where the sanctuary dedicated to “Ixchel”, the Mayan goddess of fertility, was erected.

The first inhabitants of Cozumel were the Mayas, who worshipped the goddess Ixchel, deity of fertility, childbirth, love and gestation. The love of the Mayan people for the goddess Ixchel was such that a sanctuary was built for her and it was the duty of every woman to go at least once in her life to worship her. It is said that the goddess Ixchel in gratitude made them bring from the sky the favorite birds of the Mayas, hence the name La Isla de las Golondrinas (Island of the Swallows). In Mayan Cuzam is swallow and Luum, place, giving origin to the name Cuzamil. The Spaniards, unable to pronounce it accurately, began to deform it to Cozumel.

However, you will have to board a boat to go to the mainland and tour the Mayan settlements of Chitchen Itza, Tulum and Coba.

Mayan Sacred Journey

It is a ritual performed by the Mayans paddling in canoes from Polé (today Xcaret) to Cuzamil (today Cozumel) in order to worship the goddess Ixchebelyax (Ixchel).

The Renewal of the Cosmos is underway and the rhythm of life must continue, just as the Mythic Canoe sails the sky towards the stars to close the cycles and times of adversity. The time has come for the purification and healing ceremonies held in the ancient commercial port of Polé and Cuzamil.

Pilgrims faced the adversities of the sea to seek the advice and wisdom of Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of fertility, the moon and gestation, as well as to ask for favors, health and fertility for their lands.
At that time, Maya priests and rulers communicated with the gods and organized rituals in which the community could participate.

The group of travelers leaving for “Cuzamil” also takes the opportunity to exchange products and trade with the natives of the paradisiacal island.

Once they receive their message, they travel back to the place we now know as Xcaret, and then take these words back to their respective communities.

Rebirth of the sacred Mayan journey

This ritual ceased to be celebrated with the arrival of the European conquerors for religious and commercial purposes.

However, the Mayan successors knew that sooner or later this famous ritual would be reborn. And so, the directors of Grupo Xcaret, together with the Government of the State of Quintana Roo, got together to rescue the Mayan customs and promote them.

Representatives from Xcaret, Xel-ha and Chankanaab parks were also part of this event.

The sacred journey begins in the evening at Xcaret Eco-archaeological Park.
The first encounter with the Mayan communities is to enter a lively market, where you can see how the natives exchanged skins, food, seeds, clothing, feathers and a myriad of merchandise.

The people in their pre-Hispanic clothing, the smell of food and copal, the cleanings of the shaman, as well as the Mayan music and language, are all part of the atmosphere of this tianguis straight out of a history book.

Afterwards, on a stage on the beach, the chants, prayers, dances and offerings that are part of the ritual to ask for the good fortune of the canoeists who will embark the following day take place.
The following morning, with the first rays of the sun, the 30 canoes begin their journey. Crewed by the enthusiastic volunteers who go into the sea.

It is a continuous rowing exercise and consists of a 28 kilometer journey through the 420 meter deep Cozumel channel.
Dressed in the Mayan style. That is to say, painted on the skin, with their calzon or blanket dress, the canoeros and canoeras carry an oar. They sail for approximately 6 hours under the sun’s rays, the movement of the capricious waves and the currents of approximately 4 knots.
Each canoe carries 4 to 6 crew members. All of them have a specific job within the boat. The one in front, called “Proel”, is the one who sets the pace and cuts the dangerous waves.

The following canoeists have the function of paddling and they paddle from right to left in an intercalated way. The last crew member, called the “Helmsman”, controls the balance of the canoe.

Spiritual Rebirth

The sacred Mayan journey is represented mostly by young volunteers. They have been preparing physically and mentally for this challenge since January.
The key to success is training in rowing, swimming, flotation, physical conditioning and first aid.
It is important to say that for the ancient Mayans, crossing the sea was recreating the passage through the aquatic underworld. Symbolically, a spiritual death occurred.
Upon reaching dry land and after having coexisted with the forces of nature, the ancient Maya also experienced a spiritual rebirth.

The other side of the Sacred Journey

The turning point of the sacred journey is the arrival of the canoeists in Cozumel. It is exciting to see how the community receives them with joy, gifts and food. Everyone looks happy, it is an achievement for each one of them, for the Mayan community and for all the assistants.
Each volunteer who arrives on the mainland has a story to tell. Many of them have done it out of love for the culture, for their country, for the customs, for the rescue of traditions or simply for personal challenge or self liberation.
But all together, locals, nationals and foreigners retire for the culmination of the event and the months of effort.

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El Cedral de Cozumel

El Cedral de Cozumel is one of the places you should not miss, because it is a small town that has gone through different eras such as: Mayan and Spanish era. This construction is the oldest in Cozumel.

This community has one of the oldest vestiges of the island, in which we can still see much of its architecture and traces of paintings on walls dating from 800 BC.

Also, El Cedral has one of the most significant traditions, a fair commemorating the day of the Holy Cross and the arrival of the 21 families that took refuge on the island of Cozumel during the Caste War in 1848.

The story goes that more than 170 years ago, Casimiro Cárdenas fled to Cozumel Island from the town of Sabán. His enemies murdered several of his companions, but Cardenas survives. He thinks it was because he always kept a cross in his hands and later promises that every year he will make a festivity in honor of the Holy Cross for the life that was given to him. Today, a festival is held in honor of the Santa Cruz de Sabán. On this site, one of the oldest ruins of Cozumel, the site of “La Cárcel”, is also located.

The fair of El Cedral takes place at the beginning of May and in it you can find activities such as bullfights, cockfights, rodeos, typical food, folkloric dances of the region, horseback riding, among other activities that make this fair one of the must-see activities on the island of Cozumel.

This festivity begins on the last days of April and ends on May 3, the day of the masons and the Holy Cross. During these days, masses, rosaries and folkloric dances are held. On the other hand, the town of Cedral is full of festivities, the fair is present, a bullring is the host of the bullfights, as well as of the invited artists.

The pig's head dance at the Cedral festival

Every year on May 3rd, visitors to the Cedral festival dress up in their costumes. The long awaited dance of the “Cabeza de Cochino” begins in a part of the main palapa of the village, it goes around the whole palapa, they laugh, they celebrate one more year of tradition. Pol Keken, a word that comes from the Mayan, Pool means head (of any animal) and Keken means pig. Ancient stories mention that deer or wild boar heads were used before, in order to worship the Mayan deities. But with the arrival of the Europeans, they brought the pig and it was adopted by this species.

The pig’s head has sweet bread, bars or inserted Chinese paper flags, plus flowers around it, it goes on top of a tray with an apple in the mouth of the animal, plus fruit around it. It is carried by the person who made the promise.

The ribbon dance

It is so called because on a pole several meters high, they have placed ribbons of different colors and at the tip, several flowers that adorn the so-called pole. With turns, alternating men and women, they wind the ribbons on the pole, lining it with a colorful fabric from top to bottom, to finish with another fabric away from the mast and in the form of a hat.

The ribbons are lifted and lowered and they go backwards, to unbraid the ribbons, until the pole is left with the ribbons hanging and then remove the pole and dance where the rest of the presentation will take place.

To make your experience at El Cedral more memorable, we recommend that you bring comfortable clothing, cash, sunscreen, water, hats and sunglasses.

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